The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-04
ROYALTY VACATION.
The Gar and the Boys Enjoying Themselves
in the Home of His Lovely Wife.


gay and interesting during the summer and fall
on occasion of the celebration OF the SEVENTEEN
birthday of the Queen OF Denmark. who saw
nearly every member of her family around her.
The good old LADY, who has been the most sue
cessful match making royal mamma in Europe,
is now quite deaf. She spends her whole time
present children, and in writing letters to the
ones who are abroad. Some OF these letters
have yet matrimonial drift She takes great
interest in arranging for family gatherings in
helm. in Hesse Darmstadt These family meet
ings include kings, queens and princes from
Greece. Russia and England.
Among the happiest members of the royal
group, last summer, were the Gar OF Russia and
the Czarina, who for few short months were
able TO enjoy life without fear Of conspiracy or
nihIlistic bombs. Neither the Gear nor the Gar
ina appears to have any fear of danger when at
the palace of Fredenborg, and the newspapers
during the past few months have been full OF
stories about their happy holiday and the frolics
of the royal visitors.
It is curious to see. says Danish writer, the
change in the Gear and his looks of sayety and
boyish enjoyment at Fredenbo-g as compared
with the sombre and dignided air which be
bears at St. Petersburg and Gatschina. He goes
out for long drives and walks with the Czarina.
and II on their return home they ind a visitor
he presents her gayly, with the words: My
wife-my dear little wife" The Czarina, too,
looks much better and younger than when in
Russia, where, she has said herself, ''ner nights
passed In mig htmares and her days In te--
ror." She loves to be with her sister, the Prin-
cess of Wales at their old home in Denmark.
Both are very fond of music, and the two ladies'
spend much time in playing duets together on
the very piano on which the Princess Alexandra
practced girl.
family in their summer holidays was given
Gently by writer from Helsingfors On the
18th of July the imperial feet entered the bay
of Hoitsand, and the imperial family. who had
determined to visit the springs of Kaellviken,
were landed without any retipue. The entire
family had to make an excursion of two hours
through the woods, and appeared to thoroughly
enjoy themselves After the Gar had drunk a
few glasses Of water he wandered off to the sea-
shore and planted himself solidly upon large
bowlder, while the members of the imperial
family amused themselves each in his or her
own way. The Grand Duke George occupied
himself a true Yankee would, with whiting
q stick the youngest grand duke, who Is of
very lively and restless disposition, waded in
the water built castles of sand, and the
Grand Duchess Xenia followed the example of
her brother SO far as her costume would permit
Finally the Gar began to play at making ducks
and brakes. occupation that was followed by
all the bers of the family. After amusing
themselves in this way for a while they were
ready to return boa I'd ship the little steam
yacht that had followed them along the coast
line. The youngest grand dukes were accom-
panied by their tutor, an Engishman. who car
ried conversation with them entirely in
English.
The names OF the Russian imperial children
are Czarowitz Nicholas. born in 1868. the Grand
Duke George. born in 1879; the Grand Duchess
Xenia born in 1875; the Grand Duke Michael.
born in 1878, and the Grand Duchess Olga born
in 1882
The Czarowitz Alexander is eighteen years
old. He is the hetman or chief of all the
Cossack troops, and wears, when at home, the
uniform of the Vohynia Guards. He bears
greater resem blance to the Danish house than
to the Romanoffs. He is of a quiet, studous
temperament and of affabe manners. The
second son, George, is fourteen, and is more like
his father. ana of some what obstinate, capri
cious disposition.
Gear Alexander III, splendid athlete is
tall, broad-shou!dered, thick set, but with a
face that has much that is genial about it He
was born March 10, 1s45, and has seen much
military service. During the Russo-Turkish
war he commanded the blockading army between
Rustchuk and Shumla, where be was struck
the head with bullet at the same time that his
young cousin, Sergius of Leucntenberg, was
killed.
AS Gear he is a severe student and is at pres
ent engaged in collecting materials for a life of
bis grandfather, the Gar Nicholas. In his st.
Petersburg palace he has a large study fitted up
with maps. and globes. and historical books of
great value.
No wonder that the Gar enjoys himself in
Denmark, for his lot is desirable in
Russia. where he lives and moves in an atmos-
death of Baron Reutern, his aid-de-camp, has
been told too recently to need repetition. Ev
cry one knows how the unfortunate officer.
thinking he had time to enjoy quiet cigar, WAS
surprised at the sudden entrance of the Gear,
who. seeing him putl his hands behind him,
thought that he was about to reach for a pistol,
and shot him down. The unfortunate man was,
however, simply trying to conceal his lighted
cigar, and and paid for his inGiscretion with his
life.
In the second year of the Cars reign a faith
full servant of the house persisted in a similar
way, accidentally. Meeting his imperial master
unexpectedly in the park at Gatschina, he made
a clumsy attempt to doff his cap, and guard
concealed in the shrubbery by, suspecting
that he was Nlhilist assassin, shot him dead.
At heart. the Gear is of kindly nature. as many
anecdotes testify. While walking in the park
near Fredenhorg, only few weeks ago, he was
approached by hungry woman with starving
c hid. asking for aims. not knowing who he was.
He spoke 20 her harshly, and told her to go
away at once. Immediately afterwards he sent
his adj utant after the poor woman with present
of money and with the message that he was the
Gar, that he sorry to have spoken to her
roughly, but that he had just been to visit
his children. who had the measles, and he was
afraid that if the child had been allowed to come
too him, it too might have become in
fected.
Besides having kindly heart, we have the
authority OF the late Mr.. Strakosch for saying
that he also has music in his soul, and that
''when not dodgng nihistic missiles" he amuses
himself by playing on the French horn on which
instrument he is very skilful. 1t is said that on
one occasion while he Czarowitz he played
French horn oblgato to the song given by
Nine. Nilsson. and that ''when his Imperial
Majesty visited Copenhagen and attended
concert in which Nilsson ng the same air. he
was affected to tears by the memories of a time
when he could foot his horn in peace" AS ar
historical or biographical fact. it may be added
orchestra at Gatschina, in which he takes his
place like ordinary musician and plays tie
French horn diligently.
The Czarina is a charming woman, though shs
has not the stately beauty of her sister, the
Princess of Wales. She would be beautiful, per-
haps, but for her nose, which is slightly re-
trousse She is extremely popular with the peo-
pie. and the Poles look upon her their high
protectoress Frail as she is in figure she is of
indomitable energy. aud those who had the op-
portunity of seeing her during the coronation
Moscow
is of dancing and the grace with which she can
lead the polonaise or take her part in stately
quadrlle.
Originally Princess Dagmar. of Denmark, she
is now Czarina Marie Feodorowna, the fourth
daughter of Christian TX and Queen Louise of
Denmark, born in 1S47 and married in 1866. Her
carly life had its great sorrow in the death of her
afianced husband, the the Czarewitch, the eldest
son OF the late Gar, who died at Nice and for
whom she mourned deeply. The Grand Duke
Alexander then became heir to the CARBON,
and thor oh the Rrincsss Da ID y-.-assad